Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

327 Simple thing

“I found her.”

Penny held her breath as she met Zoren’s intense gaze

e gaze – his

– his eyes so deep and piercing that it felt as if they were slowly, carefully, and meticulously unraveling the fabric of her soul. The longer she stared, the louder the echoes of her heartbeat became. Even her swallow seemed amplified in her ears as she struggled to comprehend her feelings under such an intense gaze.

Gradually, the corner of his lips curled up as his eyes softened. “However, my friendship with her will not interfere with what I’m trying to build with my wife,” he added, leaning back. “So, you do not have to worry about that, Miss Penelope.”

“Pen…” she trailed off for a moment before a subtle smile appeared on her face. “We’re not at work, so Penelope is fine.”

“Do you have a shorter name, Penelope?”

“I do.”

“May I call you with it?”

“Maybe… next time.” Penny nodded slightly. “After all, we’re still on our first date.”

“Fair enough.” He nodded in understanding. “Then I’ll wait until the time is right.”

She pressed her lips together and hummed. “Mhm.”

After that, a silence slowly settled between them. However, it was not the kind of silence one would want to break it was a silence that one could enjoy.

—

Penny’s eyes slid to the side, observing his profile. For a second, I thought he knew.”

For some reason, she wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or slightly bitter.

Life would have been less complicated if their lives were as simple as everyone else’s. However, Penny, Zoren, and their families were entangled in some troublesome issues and with difficult people. As she had said before, she preferred to stay safe rather than indulge in temporary bliss.

mean this didn’t

she wondered as she slowly shifted her gaze from him to the scenery passing by outside the window. I worked hard

for me.‘

to this

problems Charles had hidden from his family. even from his wife unexpected marriage, they were a real

–

–

tread carefully. After all, Dean was at the top of the star section for a reason, and he excelled as an adult. Penny had to acknowledge that Dean was a very

327 Simple thing

before passing judgment.

my sake and… her thoughts trailed off as she glanced at Zoren again… for his sake. Maybe for Blacky and Old Mrs. Pierson’s sake

past twelve years, and I would love to hear your stories from these twelve years. Let’s also take Blacky

slowly looked away from him. As she did,

face as he watched

[FLASHBACK]

look!” Little Penny squatted on the playground, pointing at the ground while Renren furrowed

don’t

Why would I do that?” she quickly defended herself. “I’m just saying it looks

worm again and squatted beside her. “Which

you see? It’s wiggling

because it’s trapped. It’s wiggling to survive,” he said, watching the worm wriggle its way out of the dry ground. “I think Mouse

why are you like that about Mouse? Mouse isn’t like

everything,” he said, keeping the rest of his thoughts to himself. Teven want to bring some things just to see if Mouse

narrowing her

intently.

know what she was thinking, they might assume she was contemplating a life–or–death situation.

of an animal kingdom does she want to build?‘ he wondered, slowly shifting his gaze to the worm. A worm for a pet… her

decided yet?” he asked after

look and

you said it’s